Hrgović Delivers Statement Performance
To Win WBC International Heavyweight Title

Filip Hrgović (6-0, 5 KOs) delivered a statement performance
last night to claim the WBC International Heavyweight
Championship with a sensational third-round knockout win
over Amir Mansour (23-3-1, 16 KOs) at the Arena Zagreb in
Croatia.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist, fighting in his home
country for the first time as a professional, dominated the
former WBC United States Champion, showcasing his superior
ring craft and power to capture his first major title.

Hrgović, now training with Cuban coach Pedro Diaz, started
strongly hurting ‘Hardcore’ Mansour with a pinpoint right
hand in the first-round. The onslaught continued in the
second stanza as ‘El Animal’ continued to assert his
dominance on the fight.

Mansour attempted to fight back in the third, having taken a
knee following a straight right left hook combination, which
left the American veteran open to further punishment. He was
sent back to the canvas by a flurry of punches from Hrgović
and counted out by referee Daniel Van De Wiele with 51
seconds of the round remaining.

“I would like to thank everyone for their incredible
support,” said Hrgović. “I hope that everyone is satisfied
with my performance. I have to thank my team, my promoter
Team Sauerland, my coach Pedro Diaz and all the people that
came here to support me.

“Amir Mansour is a good fighter, a terrific warrior, who
gave it his all. I was very well prepared for this fight. I
could feel the improvements from the two months I spent in
Miami with Pedro. I am happy to have given my fans in
Croatia such a performance.

"Out of all the names in the world, I’m ready to fight
anyone next. To become World Champion you have to fight the
best. Whoever they bring, I'm not afraid to fight anyone."

Hall of Fame promoter Wilfried Sauerland was ringside at the
Arena Zagreb and suitably impressed with what he saw from
the Croatian heavyweight star:

“That was a very impressive performance from Filip,” said
Sauerland. “Amir Mansour is a good fighter and we expected
him to give Filip a tough test. This shows Filip's pedigree.
He is a future World Champion. I believe he can challenge
for a World title in 5 to 6 fights.”

"We're dealing with a very special talent here," added Nisse
Sauerland. "If you look at the level of opposition for
Filip’s first six fights, there's no comparison with the
current crop of heavyweight. We will continue to increase
this level in his next fights. Anyone who watched him
tonight would agree, that he's a World Champion in waiting."

Ivana Habazin successfully defended her IBO Female World
Middleweight title against Gifty Amanua Ankrah on the
undercard in Zagreb, while German light heavyweight Leon
Bunn improved to 11-0 with the sixth-round stoppage of
Emmanuel Feuzeu, Damir Beljo scored a unanimous points over
Lukas Paszkowsky and Ema Kozin and Irais Hernandez fought to
a draw in their WBC Silver Female Super Middleweight
showdown.